After a heroic win over newcomers Netherlands 2-0 in their opening match, the Bilikiki were stopped short by CONMEBOL champions Argentina in the second game.
But as they stepped up training yesterday in preparation for today’s final showdown, play maker James Naka says this is the most important match to date for his side.
“We need a win and every single player will be putting in 100 per cent of their strength towards this crucial match.”
The Solomon Islanders went down 5-3 despite leading 4-1 at one stage of the game.
While disappointed to have given away a decent lead to fall to defeat, Naka says the side has bounced back following a positive training session and are ready to move forward.
For a number of players El Salvador are not an unknown entity with the likes of Joe Luwi, Samson Takayama and Nicholas Muri having been part of the team that beat them 6-3 in their previous encounter.
Naka says the Bilikiki will not be underestimating their opponents especially following their results at Tahiti 2013 so far.
“They beat Netherlands 5-1, a team we only beat 2-0,” Naka says.
While he himself has yet to find the back of the net, Naka set up at two perfect chances against Argentina for 17-year-old Anthony Talo.
This event has been another notch in the short but remarkable career of the teenager.
Last year at just 16 years old Talo scored the winning playing as goalkeeper for the Solomon Islands as the Kurukuru claimed its inaugural win at a FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Now playing in Tahiti as a defender, he opened the scoring against Netherlands and has a hat-trick to his name against South American champions Argentina.
“I enjoy matches like this,” he said following the final whistle. “I believe I am going to score in any game I play. I have confidence in myself.
“It’s an exciting moment to score against a big team like Argentina but we were unlucky not to win the game. Against El Salvador I will play to the final whistle and hope to have the opportunity to find the back of the net.”
While he finds himself among some incredibly experienced and multi-talented company with six of the current squad of 12 in Tahiti having also represented the Solomon Islands in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Talo is limiting himself to futsal and beach soccer only.
Though for now, his full focus is on winning against El Salvador and guaranteeing passage to the knockout stages for the first time.
“I plan to make history like at the Futsal World Cup,” Talo said.
“I think we will win this game and qualify for the next round.”
The Solomon Islands take on El Salvador in their must win final group match today, 23 September (local) at 17h30.

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